Kia Motors America Announces Record May Sales

IRVINE, Calif., June 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Kia Motors America (KMA) today reported best-ever May sales of 52,327 units as 2014 Cadenza and Forte sedans - two of the seven all-new or significantly redesigned Kia vehicles scheduled to launch this calendar year - continue to arrive in showrooms nationwide to both critical and consumer acclaim.  The U.S.-built* Optima midsize sedan led Kia's sales for the 18^th consecutive month with 15,368 units sold, and together with Sorento CUV, also built in West Point, Georgia*, accounted for more than 40 percent of Kia's May sales. The Soul urban passenger vehicle also recorded robust monthly sales of 11,420 units.   

"At Kia, we are committed to advancing value to new levels of sophistication, and you can see the standout results in the all-new Cadenza, which is the most powerful and technologically-advanced Kia ever in the U.S. market, as well as the 2014 Forte which Motor Trend recently crowned the winner of a head-to-head compact sedan comparison test with some of the industry's most well-known nameplates," said Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of KMA and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia.  "New customers continue to discover the Kia brand and our award-winning lineup which delivers a lot for the money with European-influenced styling, cutting-edge technologies, premium amenities and outstanding safety features."

Kia:  One of the World's Fastest Moving Global Automotive Brands
Kia Motors America is one of only three auto brands to increase U.S. sales in each of the past four years, and in 2012 the company surpassed the 500,000 unit mark for the first time. With a full line of fun-to-drive cars and CUVs, Kia is advancing value to new levels of sophistication by combining European-influenced styling - under the guidance of chief design officer Peter Schreyer - with cutting-edge technologies, premium amenities, affordable pricing and the lowest cost of ownership in the industry.  Kia recently joined the exclusive ranks of Interbrand's "Top 100 Best Global Brands," and is poised to continue its momentum with seven all-new or significantly redesigned vehicles scheduled to arrive in showrooms in 2013.  Over the past decade Kia Motors has invested more than $1.4 billion in the U.S., including the company's first U.S. assembly plant in West Point, Georgia - Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia - which is responsible for the creation of more than 11,000 plant and supplier jobs.  The success of the U.S.-built* Optima and Sorento in two of the industry's largest segments has fueled Kia's rapid growth and is complemented by Kia's comprehensive lineup which includes the Cadenza flagship sedan, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Sportage compact CUV, Optima Hybrid, the Forte sedan, 5-door and Koup compacts, Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and the Sedona minivan.

About Kia Motors America
Kia Motors America is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 765 dealers throughout the United States and serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and LPGA.  In 2012, KMA recorded its best-ever annual sales total and gained U.S. market share for the 18th consecutive year. Kia is poised to continue its momentum and will continue to build the brand through design innovation, quality, value, advanced safety features and new technologies.

Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its website -www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.  To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at http://www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert.

* The Sorento and Optima GDI (EX Trims and certain LX Trims only) and GDI Turbo are built in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.

[1] 2014 Kia Cadenza initially only available in certain markets with limited availability.

SOURCE Kia Motors America